By Allan Fox: IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO’s) turns 36-years-old day and still is dominating the heavyweight division like he’s 10 years younger than his chronological age.

Wladimir is four years younger than his older brother WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, but his fast hand speed and big power makes him a lot younger than 36. It’s pretty much up to Wladimir how long he wants to fight because he’ll likely remain at the top of the division well into his 40s if he decides to keep fighting that long.

Lennox Lewis retired at 38. However, he had made a lot of money and seemed to lose interest in the sport by the time he fought a young Vitali in 2003. Lewis likely could have stayed on top into his 40s had he wanted to, especially with so few real challenges for him, aside from the Klitschko brothers.

Wladimir has got the talent to stay on top for a long, long time. His only competition right now is some of the younger heavyweights like David Price, Robert Helenius, Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury. None of them are ready to fight other than Chisora, who is dealing with a ban by the British Boxing Board of Control right now. Even if he wasn’t banned, it would likely take Chisora a couple of years before he’s ranked high enough to get a shot against Wladimir due to Chisora’s three losses in his last five fights.

36 is like the new 26. Wladimir takes care of his body and seems to be not aging like most fighters. If he can keep this up he can have a chance to really leave a legacy for himself. The only once stopping him is himself. There isn’t fighter out there in the division right now that has the goods to compete with Wladimir. Perhaps there will be some day but the current crop of heavyweights are woefully inadequate in dealing with Wladimir.